The Republican journal., 1887-08-11
Letter from Kansas.
Correspondence of the journal.

GENESsE. Rice Go. Kansas. July, 1Ss1. Dear
Readers of the East: In my last communica-
ton Kansas was left in Il sad condition; no one
knew when the depression would stop. Thou
sands of her best citizens had become dscour-
aged and moved ont of the country, and said the
men could not live in Kansas. Something must
he dore or the youn" State was lost. The state
Legislature was appealed to, and during the
session of 1874 and 1915 the laws relating to the
census ard providing for the collection of an
nual statistics were materially changed, and
this Board directed to carry into effect the pro-
visions of the act. The State Centennial MAN.
ayers, appointed in 1874, were ordered to pro-
coed with their work and to make all the pre-
lImnary arrangements necessary for a COM
petc exhibit of Kansas products at Philadel-
phia in 1876, and the small sum of 81. 900 was
placed at their command to meet necessary en-
penses.
The law above referred to was approved on
the 9TH of March 1S.5 when work OH the cen
sus was Immediately begun and the statistics
taken as of the first day of March of that wear
The census was completed and published in
full the same year and showed population Of
but 52S, ,49-a less number than had been re-
turned for either 1873 or ls14. but an increase
over the number shown by the censu, of 1870
of 45 per cent. and with density of G-l3 per-
sons to the square mile.
The period between 1870 and 1850 was one
OF uninterrupted success. Bountitu crops
We're raised each year in all sections then under
cultivation, and the Centennial Exposition ut
Philadelphia in 1876 gave the state an opportt-
nifty to display her products and properly re-
present her rccupcrative powers. The exhibit
was Il success and attracted the attention and
excited the admiration of all visitors. This
display was made in competition with the agri-
cultural States of the Nation and As has been
well said eclipScd them all.
The result of the enterprise was satisfactory
to our people, and relieved the State from
much of the otium which had been hcaped
upon it by the failure Of single year and cx-
aggerated reports as to the dc>tituton and SUI
fcring. The vinlication Of those whose conii-
dcncc remained unshaken was complete. Con-
lldencc was restored and Kansas verv soon
thereafter assumed her present proud posi-
ton among the foremost agricultural states Of
the Mon, and from that date. Is stated by
Coy. Marten in Il public address. She has never
known a halt nor have the hopes of our rti-
zcns ever been troubled by doubt.
At the close of the period under consdcra-
ton June l>t. lSS0. the population OF the Sta,c
had reached 996, 6,006-an increase in five wears
of lightweight per cent. and a density of 12-l3
persons to the square mile had been attained.
While the harvest of 1S>l fell Il little below
that of 1ss0 and the wheat crop of 1SSj was
the lightcSt foT many years. the period from
1850 to IS>3 was one of general prosperity and
the State maintained her former we-earnpd
rank among the great corn and wheat growing
States of the Nation. showing at the close of
the period. March first. 1851 a population of :
6S,530-an increase over the United states
census OF 1So0 of 2I22.43i. or an aivanc: Of
2,.}}3 per cent. and al increase during the de-
cennia period ending. in f>s1 OF 40 Isl or no
per cent. and Il density of l5-i4 persons tu the
square mile.
The increase of our population iht- ,pcn -
rapid that people will ask where they rann,
from. twenty-five Per cent. OF our ppllula-
OF the States within the Union that have sup
piled the heaviest OF our population Illinois
stands ahead with 1874. 1n3. Ohio follows with
ll2,a23 and Indiana furnishes loo,27l, Missouri.
Penn>y ylvana and Iowa each nearly loD,o00,
and among other States that have furnished
25,Go0 are New York and Kentucky. The
state represents every State in the Unon and
rIi ,,ft 4 IN
of the Mrnnontc> in large numbers to tn state
within the last few wears has materially helped
our Russian population. These people are To-
Gated in the central counties, Mcpherson. kiyc
and Reno. where they bought laud belonging
to the Atrhin>on, Topeka and Santa .r Rail
road to on very advantageous terms.
With all these classes of society one can
choose his own society. rcligipilsy. politically
and socially. The census of the State SHOW,
that the male population outnumbor- the fe-
male but little in excess of seven per cent.
which is remarkable for new state and is
due. no doubt, to lhc fact that Kansas being an
agricultural Sta.e. the greater portion of those
who cmgratc hitIrr come to engage in rural
pursuits and generally bring with them tleir
necessary in every settlement aud the ubitllIi-
tous school teacher may he found PLYING hi>
vocation i'll every nook and corner of the Stare.
The state, Young Is it is. is noted the world
over for the educational advantages OF its pc0-
pie. Its laws for the promotion Of education
are complete OF the total population NOR
than onG-thirl is Of school ace. or of from five
to twenty years both inclusive. There are few
persons in Kansas of school age that do n
have school advantages. OF the iI6S1I per-
sons of school age, March l>t. 1s~5 at least
100000 attended school five months in each
year. In addition to tile public schools many
persons. both male and female over the are of
twenty years, attend school at the local colc.i-
ate institutions. three of which are encouraged
and fostered by the state. The more rromi-
nent religious denominations have also well
established institutions for higher c,lucatiou,
all of which are well patronilcd.